Benue takes new action as Governor Ortom moves to reduce tension after killings by alleged herdsmen

The government of Benue state has banned all public processions in Makurdi as a result of anger among residents of the state over the killing of at least 20 people by suspected herdsmen in two local government areas of Guma and Logo recently.

Daily Trust reports that the government decided on the action as a result of a protest which turned violent and led to the death of three people while Governor Samuel Ortom reportedly attempted to calm the aggrieved who blocked major access roads.

He was whisked out of the violence by security officials attached to his convoy shortly before making the pronouncement.
He also asked law enforcement agencies to carry out thorough investigation into the attack on protesting students which led to the loss of lives.
Terver Akase, the governor’s chief press secretary, said in a statement that, that Ortom commiserated with families of the victims and described the attack on the young protesters as insensitive to the current mood of the people of the state.

He promised that those involved in the attack of the protesting residents and responsible for the death of the three of the youths would be brought to justice.
LINKNAIJA.COM earlier reported how the New Year’s Day killings which took place in Benue was described by leaders of the state as a planned genocide, according to a report by The Nation. The claim was made by three socio-cultural groups- Mdzough U Tiv, Idoma National Forum and Omi Ny’Igede- at a joint news conference in Abuja, the nations’ capital, on Thursday, January 4.